So many ways to help

Housing Works depends heavily on the generosity of volunteers in the pursuit of our mission to end AIDS and homelessness. Volunteers like you started our very first thrift shop in Chelsea and continue to support us to this day in all twelve of our shops. Volunteers have allowed our shops to grow, and they now generate over $16 million each year to support the comprehensive care of our clients and advocacy efforts. By volunteering at a Housing Works Thrift shop, you are directly responsible for providing revenue support for over 2500 New Yorkers affected by homelessness and HIV/AIDS.

We are always looking for dynamic and friendly people to help provide great customer service and an outstanding thrifting experience in our shops. Volunteers can accept merchandise donations, assist customers at our fitting rooms, refill and organize our clothing racks and house wares shelves, assist to merchandise the shop, and work with staff on a wide variety of special projects. Each volunteer is trained to have knowledge of each area of the shop, and each person’s volunteer experience can be tailored to their personal skills and interests.

We also invite volunteers to assist us at our new Buy the Bag sales, located at our donations warehouse in Queens, New York. On select Saturdays each month, the warhouse opens its doors to shoppers who purchase tickets to shop directly from our donations before they arrive at our stores. We ask volunteers to help to bring the same level of great customer service to these sales and to provide an exciting shopping experience for our customers at the event.
We welcome you to become part of our thrift shop family.

If you are interested in volunteering at our thrift shops

» Sign up to volunteer